While agreeing the draft strategy "in essence" aligns with Central Otago values, the Central Otago District Arts Trust is concerned arts and culture funding lags behind sports funding, and that deserving projects often get shelved.
In a written response to Wanaka Sun questions this week, the arts trust said it felt there was "little awareness of or allowance for the South Island arts and/or creative endeavours or traditions" and "somewhat clumsily, the draft appears ageist and heavily weighted towards certain sectors of our population".
The draft strategy is titled "Amplify: A Creative and Cultural Strategy for New Zealand".
Mr Goldsmith said in April he was initially resistant to delivering an arts and creative sector strategy, because "the whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington".
Arts trust co-ordinator Rebekah de Jong said in a statement on Tuesday at "first blush the aims of the strategy seem commendable and deserving of support" but "this should not be slavish or uncritical support".
The trustees had considered the strategy carefully and felt it was important to make a thorough and considered response. They would be giving feedback to the government by December 15.
"The draft strategy attempts to move arts and culture in the right direction.
"Much of it has been the proposed direction for a while now, but to make a real difference more funding needs to be available to practitioners and organisers of creative endeavours.
"For a number of years the central government has not taken the benefits and value of the arts seriously enough. Consequently the funding for the arts and culture have consistently lagged behind sport and other areas competing for government funding," she said.
The trust also wanted thought to be given to streamlining funding delivery, Ms de Jong said.
"For example it is reasonable to note that a considerable proportion of the allocated funding goes to supporting the infrastructure of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Creative NZ and yet economies are made every day by not paying co-ordinators and project managers, and this is often the reason that really deserving projects often get shelved. It often seems that those involved in co-ordinating activities are required to give their time voluntarily."
More specific detail was needed about desired outcomes or goals and the values being sought by the government.
"It can be asked just what does it mean in the arts context when referring to an objective that ‘maximises value’?
"Central Otago District Arts Trust has long argued in favour of the importance of the arts to our communities and to the health of individuals within our society," she said.
The wording of the draft seemed to fail to recognise the major past and present contributions made to New Zealand culture by European artistic disciplines and by New Zealanders of European heritage.
"These issues need to be carefully disentangled and explored if this document is to have any credibility and real impact, particularly as it purports to have or give guidance until 2030," Mrs de Jong said.
Queenstown Lakes arts organisations believed their events aligned with the strategy.
